The Zookeeper's Wife Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot

The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance – and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.

Cited as official plot version from focusfeatures.com

Drama

Top Cast

The lead cast starring in The Zookeeper's Wife.

• 
  Jessica Chastain

  ... Antonina Żabiński

  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, Mothers’ Instinct

• J
  Johan Heldenbergh

  ... Dr. Jan Żabiński

  Ad Vitam

• D
  Daniel Brühl

  ... Lutz Heck

  The Entertainment System Is Down, Eden

• M
  Michael McElhatton

  Togo, The Last Duel

• I
  Iddo Goldberg

  And While We Were Here, The Killing Kind

• G
  Goran Kostic

  The Hunting Party, The Last Days On Mars

• S
  Shira Haas

  Captain America: Brave New World, A Tale Of Love And Darkness

• E
  Efrat Dor

Crew Behind the Film

The The Zookeeper's Wife behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Niki Caro last directed The Mother and Mulan. The film's writer Angela Workman last wrote Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Bronte.

Director

Niki Caro

Screenwriter

Angela Workman

Producers

Diane Levin
Michael Tollin
Robbie Tollin
Kim Zubick

Production Details

What we know about the The Zookeeper's Wife movie production.

Key Facts

• Academy Award nominee Suzie Davies (Mr. Turner) is the production designer on The Zookeeper’s Wife; Andrij Parekh (Show Me a Hero) is the director of photography; and Bina Daigeler (Only Lovers Left Alive) is the film’s costume designer.
• Focus Features will release the film domestically; Universal Pictures International has distribution rights to the film in the U.K., France, Germany, Scandinavia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
• Adapted from Diane Ackerman’s nonfiction book of the same name which was based on the diaries of Antonina Żabiński.

Production Updates for The Zookeeper's Wife

Feb 2017

Completed

Changed The Zookeeper's Wife movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Jun 2016

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Oct 2015

Production

Changed the movie production status to Production. Production has begun in the Czech Republic.

Apr 2013

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. Niki Caro has come aboard to direct the World War II story.

Sep 2010

Announced

Changed the movie production status to Announced. No additional details available for this status.

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Additional Information

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